The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended a Sub-Inspector of the Delhi Police, posted at Prashant Vihar Police Station, after catching him red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹80,000 on 4 October 2026. The accused, who was the Investigating Officer in a criminal case registered at the same police station, had allegedly demanded a total of ₹1 lakh from the complainant in exchange for favouring him in the proceedings.

How the Trap Was Laid

According to the CBI, the accused Sub-Inspector first conducted a personal search of the complainant and found ₹20,000 in his pocket, which he reportedly seized under duress. He then directed the complainant to return the following day with the remaining ₹80,000. The CBI, acting on the complaint, registered the case on 4 October and swiftly laid a trap. The accused was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the balance amount from the complainant.

What the CBI Said

The agency underscored its zero-tolerance stance on corruption among public servants. In an official statement, the CBI said: 'The strict action by the CBI against corrupt public servants underscores its firm commitment to curbing corruption. Citizens who come across instances of corruption or are subjected to demands for bribes by public officials are encouraged to report such matters. They may visit the office of the CBI to lodge their complaints or share relevant information.'

Further investigation into the case is currently underway, the agency added.

Separate Mumbai Bank Fraud Case

In a separate development, the CBI on 3 October conducted searches at multiple premises in Mumbai in connection with a bank fraud case involving alleged losses of approximately ₹93.44 crore to Punjab National Bank (PNB). The case was registered on 30 September on a complaint filed by PNB's SAM Branch in Mumbai against Hanjer Biotech Energies, its directors and guarantors, as well as unknown public servants and private individuals.

According to the CBI, the accused had entered into a criminal conspiracy and obtained a term loan of ₹135 crore against invoices of a related party. The funds were allegedly diverted for purposes other than those for which the loan was sanctioned, resulting in a loss of approximately ₹93.44 crore to the bank. The accused have been booked for criminal conspiracy, cheating, and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Searches were conducted at multiple premises linked to the directors of Hanjer Biotech Energies in Mumbai.

Pattern of Enforcement

The back-to-back actions — a trap operation in New Delhi and searches in Mumbai within the span of two days — reflect a broader CBI push against corruption at multiple levels of public administration. Notably, the Prashant Vihar case is a textbook abuse-of-process scenario: the accused leveraged his own investigative authority to extract money from the very person whose case he was handling. This conflict of interest at the ground level of law enforcement is precisely the pattern anti-corruption agencies warn most erodes public trust in police institutions.

The CBI's swift trap operation — registered and executed within the same day — signals an intent to demonstrate responsiveness to citizen complaints, as pressure mounts on investigative agencies to act decisively against graft within uniformed services.